Thursday, September 11, 2008

Celtic influences in my jewelry

When I was looking through my listings on Etsy I realized how strongly my Welsh (Celtic) origins affect my jewelry design. I am intrigued by the Celtic Eternity Knot and it's infinite variations. As a Presbyterian pastor I am particularly drawn to the Trinity knots and their meaning down through the ages. Dragons, of course, are a huge part of the Celtic heritage of the Welsh people. "Y ddraig goch", the red dragon, is the symbol of Wales. Rumor has it that Merlin actually witnessed the fight between the red dragon of Wales and the white dragon of the Anglo Saxons.

I even find that the colors I am drawn to in the semi-precious gems that I use are the misty, mysterious colors of the Celtic lands- Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany as well as the Isle of Mann. I love the Highland plaids but haven't found a way to include them - yet. I also love the greens of Ireland, from the soft muted green of a misty morning to the bright, in your face, green of the shamrock. Then, there are the heathers and all the beautiful variations of purple that that encompasses. And, finally, all the wonderful, elusive shades of the mists that coat the hillsides and sacred places.

I could go on and on about Celtic influences, especially the various forms of the Celtic knot, but I will save that for another post.

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About Me

Magpies love bright and shiny things that sparkle and so do I! If magpies could dream, I am sure they would dream about all the pretties I love to create. I am just starting in my second career as a Presbyterian Pastor after working as a Postmaster in the USPS. Designing and creating jewelry is an exciting way to engage the senses and indulge in beautiful dreams.